The Chengdu J-10 (another designation: Jian J-10) is a modern Chinese multi-role fighter, which is a low wing in the duck configuration. The drive is provided by a single Saturn-Lulka AL-31FN or WS-10A turbofan engine. The first flight of this machine took place in March 1998. Serial production started in 2003 and it is estimated that by the end of 2017, approximately 350 machines of this type had been produced. The on-board armament consists of a single 23mm GSh-23 cannon.
Work on the Chengdu J-10 probably began in 1984 and was to lead to the creation of a new light fighter for the Chinese Air Force. Certainly, the work on it used the experience gained from the abandoned J-9 fighter project. However, the information about cooperation on J-10 with Israeli companies, especially with IAI, is not confirmed. In the course of research, it turned out that the main problem was to choose the right drive unit, and it was only at the end of the 1990s, due to the warming relations with the Russian Federation, that it was possible to obtain appropriate engines from this country. In the course of serial production, three main development versions of the Chengdu J-10 were created, for example: J-10A (basic production version), J-10S (two-seat training and training version), J-10B (an improved fighter version with much richer avionics) .
The Chengu J-10 is a Chinese, twin-engine, supersonic multi-role fighter, which is a low wing duck-shaped fighter. Design work on the aircraft began in the mid-1980s, but the first flight of the prototype probably took place in 1996. Such a long delay was caused by problems with the engine and the need to redesign the airframe with the introduction of new power units. The first pre-production series aircraft took to the air in 2003, and mass production, oscillating at 50 aircraft a year, probably started in 2005. The first unit to receive new aircraft was the 131st Fighter Regiment in Mengazi. The J-10 uses modern digital solutions, fly-by-wire, three LCD MFD monitors, a Western HOTAS maneuvering system and a modern Chinese HMS helmet. The J-10 has an infrared and laser missile guidance system, ECM electronic jamming system and a passive-active radar system. Despite the external similarity to the Eurofighter or JAS-39 Gripen aircraft, it is difficult to clearly compare the combat values of these aircraft. Technical data (J-10A version): length: 15.49 m, wingspan: 9.75 m, height: 5.43 m, maximum speed: about 2 Ma, maximum range: about 1850 km, maximum ceiling 18000 m, armament: permanent - one double-barreled 23mm cannon, underslung - the plane has 6 under-wing hooks and 5 under-fuselage hooks with a total lifting capacity of about 6000 kg.